LAS VEGAS – Brittney Griner didn’t know what to expect when the WNBA season started, how she would react after the trauma she experienced from incarceration in Russia, which also forced her off the field for many months.
Griner surprised himself and played well enough to be a starting XI in Saturday’s All-Star Game.
“I just wanted to go out there and do my best not to get hurt and do my best,” Griner said. “Actually, I was a little shocked by how it was when I came on the pitch, so I’m happy with that.”
“It was definitely a tough road. Lots of long, hard hours in the gym and weight room to get fit again.”
Griner spent nearly 300 days in Russian custody after his arrest February 17, 2022, for drug offenses at an airport near Moscow. She was released on December 8th by the US government agreed to a prisoner exchange.
The WNBA remembered Griner while she was held in Russia, and placed her initials and jersey number 42 on every field. She was also named an honorary starter of the All-Star Game last year.
She’s been a real starter this year, averaging 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the Phoenix Mercury.
“My stats will definitely be better this year than last year,” Griner said, laughing. “You have to use humor in life.”
Griner will play for Team Stewart.
“It’s really inspiring to see what she’s doing and how she’s behaving,” said New York Liberty captain Breanna Stewart. “It’s like she’s been gone for ten months, but she still acts and behaves the same way. I definitely admire the strength she has. And the way she manages to be a strong character on the pitch, she’s one of the best and we’re glad she’s back with us.”
Griner said not only did she not think she would make it to this year’s All-Star Game, but she would still be stuck in Russia.
However, her return to the United States was not entirely happy. Griner was molested at a Dallas airport last month by someone the WNBA dubbed a “social media personality,” prompting the league to reconsider its policies on their travel habits.
She is interested in playing in the new three-on-three and one-on-one league Unrivaled, which players are creating so they don’t have to supplement their income abroad.
Stewart and Minnesota Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier are co-founders and are hoping to plan a January-March season.
For now, though, Griner’s focus is on the All-Star celebrations, and she’s very grateful that she was able to attend. She was also blown away by the honors at last year’s game.
“I still see images of things I didn’t see that finally got done at All-Star, so I’m still up to date on everything,” Griner said. “But it definitely feels great to actually be able to physically be here now.”
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